For the general election on Thursday 4 July, please remember you will need to show photo ID at the polling station. See accepted forms of ID
Standing for Election
Am I eligible to stand for election?
To stand for election, on the day of nomination, you must be:
- 18 or over
- Be a UK, EU or Commonwealth citizen
You must meet at least one of the following qualifications:
- Be registered to vote as a local government elector in the area
- Occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the local authority area
- Your main or only place of work is in the local authority area
- Live in the local authority area
You cannot stand if:
- You work for the Council
- You hold a politically restricted post for another local authority
- You are bankrupt
- You have served a prison sentence (including suspended sentences) of 3 months or more within 5 years before the election
- You have been disqualified under any legislation relating to corrupt or illegal electoral practices
Standing as a Councillor for a political party
The majority of people become Councillors as a result of joining a political party.
However, you do not need to be a member of a political party to stand as a Councillor. You will be classed as an independent.
If you are thinking of standing as a candidate for a particular political party then you will need to be a member of that party's local organisation.
What do I do next?
You will need to complete and submit a valid nomination form in order to stand for election.
Nomination forms can be found on the Electoral Commission website, or a pack can be requested from the Electoral Services office.
For more information, and to receive a nomination pack, please contact the Electoral Services team using the contact form below.
The independent group of the Local Government Association (LGA) has also prepared a helpful guide for Councillors and candidates (please see below).